Timing recombinant prion protein conversion as a measure of prion activity in chronic wasting disease

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal neurological disease affecting cervids caused by prions. Infected cervids shed the CWD prion in bodily fluids and excrement, contaminating the environment and creating an agricultural and ecological calamity. Preclinical antemortem CWD testing method is demanded by CWD risk management programs. In vitro PrP-conversion assays have been developed as potential tools for such an approach with increasing sensitivity for prion detection. However, no method has been routinely employed thus far. Timing recombinant-PrP conversion into amyloid fibrils, seeded by elk CWD prion, as a diagnostic method is presented herein. The assay, termed “RePLICA”, is at least as sensitive for detecting elk CWD in brain tissues as Tg(CerPrP-M132)1536+/- and Tg(CerPrP-E226)5037+/- mouse bioassay models. The assay performs within a period of 35 hours, is consistently reproducible, and functions on elk brain and tonsil tissues. There are indications RePLICA has the potential to titre CWD infectivity.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Gray, John Geoffrey

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Czub, Markus

• Biology--Molecular
• Veterinary Science

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/28457

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/1550